Micah was a prophet during the crazy years surrounding the fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire (720ish BC). Israel was filled with corruption and social unrest. There was external and internal pressure within the nation and the people were feeling it within their relationships and families. Micah starts off this chapter lamenting about the state of things relationally and politically, saying that no one could be trusted... “The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns.” (V3-4 NLT). Leadership that’s used for personal gain is not a modern concept. Betrayal is ancient, it has been around since the beginning. The earth is infected with it, tainted by it... And all through history there are stories and testimonies of hardship, dictatorship, injustice and just downright evil. Stories that seem so untrue because of how incredibly horrific they are. And they are happening still today. Conspiracy theories are rampant, and the question, “who can we really trust?” rings loud and true in our hearts. And it's not just governments and kings we’re afraid of. We’re scared of our neighbours, of street corners and dark alleyways. Our fences are high and strong, everything we own is insured, and still we sleep with one eye open. And after all that, sometimes trouble comes from the most unexpected places - your closest friend could turn out to be your greatest enemy. That's pretty dramatic and pessimistic, but this is what Micah was saying was happening in his nation and amongst his people. I think we can relate to it in varying degrees. Micah made a choice about how he would respond to the hard times happening all around him. He decided to pray and trust. He believed that the sorrow and upheaval they were experiencing would eventually give way to peace and restoration. He was not going to give up just because things were tough, rather he knew that God heard his every plea and cry and would lead him, and the nations, beyond these times. And they same goes for us. How will you respond to the political and social unrest around the world and within your neighbourhood? Or even within your own home? Don’t give up, don’t stop caring, and don’t stop engaging in your community. Stick around to see what God will do. Now is the time that your faith and hope are needed. You have a voice - use it to bring peace. You have resources, use them to spread hope. And our infinite God, who is in all things and through all things, wants to give you peace and joy even in the midst of turmoil and hopelessness. And for you to be that peace and hope for others. Pray, listen, trust. When trouble is thick and harm is close by,s stick around, keep on going; don't get bogged down in hatred and despair, but stand in faith, hope and love... you never know how God will use you to be a part of the answer.
Micah was a prophet during the crazy years surrounding the fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire (720ish BC). Israel was filled with corruption and social unrest. There was external and internal pressure within the nation and the people were feeling it within their relationships and families. Micah starts off this chapter lamenting about the state of things relationally and politically, saying that no one could be trusted... “The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns.” (V3-4 NLT). Leadership that’s used for personal gain is not a modern concept. Betrayal is ancient, it has been around since the beginning. The earth is infected with it, tainted by it... And all through history there are stories and testimonies of hardship, dictatorship, injustice and just downright evil. Stories that seem so untrue because of how incredibly horrific they are. And they are happening still today. Conspiracy theories are rampant, and the question, “who can we really trust?” rings loud and true in our hearts. And it's not just governments and kings we’re afraid of. We’re scared of our neighbours, of street corners and dark alleyways. Our fences are high and strong, everything we own is insured, and still we sleep with one eye open. And after all that, sometimes trouble comes from the most unexpected places - your closest friend could turn out to be your greatest enemy. That's pretty dramatic and pessimistic, but this is what Micah was saying was happening in his nation and amongst his people. I think we can relate to it in varying degrees. Micah made a choice about how he would respond to the hard times happening all around him. He decided to pray and trust. He believed that the sorrow and upheaval they were experiencing would eventually give way to peace and restoration. He was not going to give up just because things were tough, rather he knew that God heard his every plea and cry and would lead him, and the nations, beyond these times. And they same goes for us. How will you respond to the political and social unrest around the world and within your neighbourhood? Or even within your own home? Don’t give up, don’t stop caring, and don’t stop engaging in your community. Stick around to see what God will do. Now is the time that your faith and hope are needed. You have a voice - use it to bring peace. You have resources, use them to spread hope. And our infinite God, who is in all things and through all things, wants to give you peace and joy even in the midst of turmoil and hopelessness. And for you to be that peace and hope for others. Pray, listen, trust. When trouble is thick and harm is close by,s stick around, keep on going; don't get bogged down in hatred and despair, but stand in faith, hope and love... you never know how God will use you to be a part of the answer.
This verse used to make me feel small and insignificant. “I must decrease because I am useless, sin-ridden, incapable and inherently bad. Jesus must increase because He is good." I was weighed down with the burden of having to “do better” to be acceptable and always fearful that I would never be enough. "I am lowly and unworthy, but he is holy and righteous..." The view that God takes pity on us and saves us because he can’t stand the state we are in has done so much damage to people's hearts. God LOVES us that’s why he saves us. While we were still sinners, covered in shame, unworthy and not asking for forgiveness, Christ died for us. In the words of Jerry McGuire (from the movie), God “completes” us... This verse isn’t about you being diminished so that God can be exalted. One day, Jesus and John the Baptist were baptising people in the same lake. More people were flocking to Jesus than were congregating around John. John’s disciples were getting jealous of Jesus’s larger crowd and popularity. They complained, but John remained calm and confident. He explained to them that his purpose was to herald Jesus, to make a way, prepare the people for what would come next… And here on the shores of the lake, he could see that his job, this part of the journey was coming to an end. He explained that it was now Jesus’ time to baptise and teach and fulfil the prophecies of old. John was passing the baton – “He must increase, I must decrease…” It was like he was saying “I must step aside as I have fulfilled this part of my destiny, and it's time for Jesus to fulfil his." He says, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.” John is talking about comparison and significance. His disciples were jealous that Jesus was attracting a greater crowd. It’s not about who gets the biggest crowd, who has more influence, who's popular and known, famous or not… It’s about being authentic, true to your calling and finding great joy in being empowered by Jesus. Then watching others do the same. Don't be intimated by someone's moment in the spotlight. Just keep on doing what you were put on this earth for, what resonates deep within your bones. That is how you find true fulfillment. Vulnerable, humble, honest and confident. John knew when to speak and when to let someone else take over. And that these changes in his vocation did not affect his value or impact in the Kingdom of God. Don’t delete yourself to fit Jesus in. Gather all that you are, every nook and cranny of your life and fill it with him. Overflow it with faith, hope and love. He fulfils you, not subtracts you. It’s been his plan all along that the beautiful collision of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the natural and supernatural would be the grandest, most glorious miracle of all. Let Jesus be Jesus and you be you. Don't try to play his part, just fulfill yours. You do your bit and let Jesus do his. Side by side, in divine partnership as it should be.
This verse used to make me feel small and insignificant. “I must decrease because I am useless, sin-ridden, incapable and inherently bad. Jesus must increase because He is good." I was weighed down with the burden of having to “do better” to be acceptable and always fearful that I would never be enough. "I am lowly and unworthy, but he is holy and righteous..." The view that God takes pity on us and saves us because he can’t stand the state we are in has done so much damage to people's hearts. God LOVES us that’s why he saves us. While we were still sinners, covered in shame, unworthy and not asking for forgiveness, Christ died for us. In the words of Jerry McGuire (from the movie), God “completes” us... This verse isn’t about you being diminished so that God can be exalted. One day, Jesus and John the Baptist were baptising people in the same lake. More people were flocking to Jesus than were congregating around John. John’s disciples were getting jealous of Jesus’s larger crowd and popularity. They complained, but John remained calm and confident. He explained to them that his purpose was to herald Jesus, to make a way, prepare the people for what would come next… And here on the shores of the lake, he could see that his job, this part of the journey was coming to an end. He explained that it was now Jesus’ time to baptise and teach and fulfil the prophecies of old. John was passing the baton – “He must increase, I must decrease…” It was like he was saying “I must step aside as I have fulfilled this part of my destiny, and it's time for Jesus to fulfil his." He says, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is fulfilled.” John is talking about comparison and significance. His disciples were jealous that Jesus was attracting a greater crowd. It’s not about who gets the biggest crowd, who has more influence, who's popular and known, famous or not… It’s about being authentic, true to your calling and finding great joy in being empowered by Jesus. Then watching others do the same. Don't be intimated by someone's moment in the spotlight. Just keep on doing what you were put on this earth for, what resonates deep within your bones. That is how you find true fulfillment. Vulnerable, humble, honest and confident. John knew when to speak and when to let someone else take over. And that these changes in his vocation did not affect his value or impact in the Kingdom of God. Don’t delete yourself to fit Jesus in. Gather all that you are, every nook and cranny of your life and fill it with him. Overflow it with faith, hope and love. He fulfils you, not subtracts you. It’s been his plan all along that the beautiful collision of the ordinary and the extraordinary, the natural and supernatural would be the grandest, most glorious miracle of all. Let Jesus be Jesus and you be you. Don't try to play his part, just fulfill yours. You do your bit and let Jesus do his. Side by side, in divine partnership as it should be.
It’s easy in our working, paying bills, mowing lawns, shopping, school fees, going to and fro, TV watching, magazine and blog reading, sports, trying to afford holidays, mortgaging for that dream house - all the normal stuff - to allow our focus to fall on accumulating wealth and material possessions. We’ve all been there: we’ve all wished for better circumstances, hoped for a nicer house, prayed for a full bank account when the bills arrive, dreamt of exotic holidays and desired high paying, satisfying vocations. It's pretty normal to want to have these things and dream and plan for them. Who wouldn’t want to go on a month-long tour of Italy just for fun!! But when the desire for more wealth, more anything, starts to impact your moral decisions in a negative sense, you know you’ve gone too far. Putting money over morality is never the right choice. And it means that you’ve entered into a space where money is your master - it controls your decisions, what you say and what you do to amass ‘greater riches.’ The deceptive thing about money is that it looks like you can buy everything you’ve ever wanted with it. But as the bank account grows, the ‘want’ and ‘need’ list grows also… Buying more and more will never fill your life with the things that matter. Jim Carrey has said, “I wish everyone would get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” I find in my own life that every time I reach a goal, every time I pay off a loan, or a bill, or start that new job, or get back from that holiday, new challenges arrive with the new territory. Reaching the goal doesn’t cure need. It just creates more of them. Living to get more creates a shallow existence based on exteriors and image; things that can be wiped away in a moment. Who are you when all your stuff disappears? When you finish that job? When you’re at home with your family or out with friends? When your designer clothes get ruined and you crash your expensive car? A certain type of wealth resides in silver and gold, your material possessions and ‘stuff’, but to be truly rich is a matter of the heart. To have a reputation of authenticity, love and joy, of things that hold true beyond money and glitz and glamour is a treasure to spend your life in its pursuit. "Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” Brene Brown. Be responsible, pay your bills, go on holidays, save up for things that you like... but don’t be fooled into thinking that things and stuff make your life meaningful. Life is so much more than things. The Minimalists (www.theminimalists.com) say, "You are so much more than your stuff. Even in an empty room, the value is within you, not your things.”
It’s easy in our working, paying bills, mowing lawns, shopping, school fees, going to and fro, TV watching, magazine and blog reading, sports, trying to afford holidays, mortgaging for that dream house - all the normal stuff - to allow our focus to fall on accumulating wealth and material possessions. We’ve all been there: we’ve all wished for better circumstances, hoped for a nicer house, prayed for a full bank account when the bills arrive, dreamt of exotic holidays and desired high paying, satisfying vocations. It's pretty normal to want to have these things and dream and plan for them. Who wouldn’t want to go on a month-long tour of Italy just for fun!! But when the desire for more wealth, more anything, starts to impact your moral decisions in a negative sense, you know you’ve gone too far. Putting money over morality is never the right choice. And it means that you’ve entered into a space where money is your master - it controls your decisions, what you say and what you do to amass ‘greater riches.’ The deceptive thing about money is that it looks like you can buy everything you’ve ever wanted with it. But as the bank account grows, the ‘want’ and ‘need’ list grows also… Buying more and more will never fill your life with the things that matter. Jim Carrey has said, “I wish everyone would get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” I find in my own life that every time I reach a goal, every time I pay off a loan, or a bill, or start that new job, or get back from that holiday, new challenges arrive with the new territory. Reaching the goal doesn’t cure need. It just creates more of them. Living to get more creates a shallow existence based on exteriors and image; things that can be wiped away in a moment. Who are you when all your stuff disappears? When you finish that job? When you’re at home with your family or out with friends? When your designer clothes get ruined and you crash your expensive car? A certain type of wealth resides in silver and gold, your material possessions and ‘stuff’, but to be truly rich is a matter of the heart. To have a reputation of authenticity, love and joy, of things that hold true beyond money and glitz and glamour is a treasure to spend your life in its pursuit. "Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” Brene Brown. Be responsible, pay your bills, go on holidays, save up for things that you like... but don’t be fooled into thinking that things and stuff make your life meaningful. Life is so much more than things. The Minimalists (www.theminimalists.com) say, "You are so much more than your stuff. Even in an empty room, the value is within you, not your things.”
As I talk to people and overhear conversations happening around me, the talk sometimes ends up being about how we/they (in general) don't have enough. Not enough money to buy this new gadget, or upgrade the car, or add on more rooms, buy those designer shoes. We often fall into complaints about the cost of electricity and medical care and school and food. The thing is, we all have homes, clothes, cars, shoes. We all have enough, but the insatiable desire for more is always lurking close by. It grips us with the fear of missing out, often causing us to value THINGS above PEOPLE. And it leads us to derive our worth from the accumulation of 'things’ and ’stuff’. This stronghold takes root in our hearts and is often perpetuated by our western-culture lifestyles. Marketing, media, and competition drive us to want what we don’t have, promising that those things beyond our reach will make us feel more successful, more together... more secure. Society is not to blame though. Our behaviour is our choice, as is what we do with and how we treat our resources; financially, physically, mentally and emotionally. A lesson I’ve learned of late is to let go of material stuff. Often, when I drive down the street, I find myself internally envying those living in big houses and driving fancy cars. Being a father and husband of our household, I feel this instinctive desire to provide the best I can for my family. If I was honest, in the past it has caused me an amount of quiet anxiety. Wanting the best for those you love is honourable. But it can get unhealthy if left unchecked. If the pursuit of material things becomes more important than the emotional and spiritual health of your friendships and family, you know you’re heading into dangerous territory. What does a man's stuff say about him anyway? Does it confess the love he has for his wife and kids? How he cares for his parents and siblings? How he mows the lawn for the neighbours once a week and drives Mr Evans to lawn bowls on Thursday? How he sits on the phone every few days talking with his best friend John whose wife has just been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer? Can it tell stories of the tales he tells to his 5-year-old at night and how he dances with his daughter every morning? How when he looks into the night sky filled with an infinite spray of stars, he can feel the presence of the divine as close as his own skin? Stuff and things help, they serve a purpose, there is a certain amount of joy in them. And we need them to assist us in living. But they are NOT what life is all about. And your accumulation of them, or lack of them, do not define you, or your worth. So relax. Slow down, smell the roses and live fully in this moment. Not living in fear that you’ll miss out, but being aware and grateful for every good thing you have. What's right in front of you right now. Carpe Diem! I’ve discovered there’s a bounty of treasure available in this moment. When we live for tomorrow’s pleasure, we miss the abundance and richness of today. When I bring my attention to the NOW moment, I notice little details and subtleties in my kids I’ve never seen before; my small house becomes my home full of wonderful memories and love soaked walls; and I see a beauty and grace in my wife that goes beyond her natural beauty. I don’t know the answer to happiness. But, I have found that when I slow down and stress less about what I don’t have, I feel happier and more thankful for what I do have… and really, what I have is more than enough.
As I talk to people and overhear conversations happening around me, the talk sometimes ends up being about how we/they (in general) don't have enough. Not enough money to buy this new gadget, or upgrade the car, or add on more rooms, buy those designer shoes. We often fall into complaints about the cost of electricity and medical care and school and food. The thing is, we all have homes, clothes, cars, shoes. We all have enough, but the insatiable desire for more is always lurking close by. It grips us with the fear of missing out, often causing us to value THINGS above PEOPLE. And it leads us to derive our worth from the accumulation of 'things’ and ’stuff’. This stronghold takes root in our hearts and is often perpetuated by our western-culture lifestyles. Marketing, media, and competition drive us to want what we don’t have, promising that those things beyond our reach will make us feel more successful, more together... more secure. Society is not to blame though. Our behaviour is our choice, as is what we do with and how we treat our resources; financially, physically, mentally and emotionally. A lesson I’ve learned of late is to let go of material stuff. Often, when I drive down the street, I find myself internally envying those living in big houses and driving fancy cars. Being a father and husband of our household, I feel this instinctive desire to provide the best I can for my family. If I was honest, in the past it has caused me an amount of quiet anxiety. Wanting the best for those you love is honourable. But it can get unhealthy if left unchecked. If the pursuit of material things becomes more important than the emotional and spiritual health of your friendships and family, you know you’re heading into dangerous territory. What does a man's stuff say about him anyway? Does it confess the love he has for his wife and kids? How he cares for his parents and siblings? How he mows the lawn for the neighbours once a week and drives Mr Evans to lawn bowls on Thursday? How he sits on the phone every few days talking with his best friend John whose wife has just been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer? Can it tell stories of the tales he tells to his 5-year-old at night and how he dances with his daughter every morning? How when he looks into the night sky filled with an infinite spray of stars, he can feel the presence of the divine as close as his own skin? Stuff and things help, they serve a purpose, there is a certain amount of joy in them. And we need them to assist us in living. But they are NOT what life is all about. And your accumulation of them, or lack of them, do not define you, or your worth. So relax. Slow down, smell the roses and live fully in this moment. Not living in fear that you’ll miss out, but being aware and grateful for every good thing you have. What's right in front of you right now. Carpe Diem! I’ve discovered there’s a bounty of treasure available in this moment. When we live for tomorrow’s pleasure, we miss the abundance and richness of today. When I bring my attention to the NOW moment, I notice little details and subtleties in my kids I’ve never seen before; my small house becomes my home full of wonderful memories and love soaked walls; and I see a beauty and grace in my wife that goes beyond her natural beauty. I don’t know the answer to happiness. But, I have found that when I slow down and stress less about what I don’t have, I feel happier and more thankful for what I do have… and really, what I have is more than enough.
Paul was talking about how to live “at home in the body [but] absent from the Lord” (2 Cor 5:6). Absent from his bodily presence. Jesus had walked, talked, and lived with many of them - they still had a visceral memory of Jesus and all that he had done. But Jesus had ascended into heaven, his physical form leaving the earth. For those of us reading this story hundreds of years on, and for some there at the time, it seems that there was once again a separation between God and man. The teaching and understanding around Jesus living in hearts was still very new. Paul was encouraging those gathered at Corinth to walk out this New Way by faith - believing that while Jesus was not physically and tangibly with them, he was still very present and at work in their lives. They didn’t need to sacrifice or perform, but they were at one with Christ. It's a grand mystery. After his ascension, Jesus was still present in the earth. Perhaps even more so. As his blood trickled down that cross, and his sweat and tears fell to the ground and mingled with the dirt, he was once again sown into the earth. Buried like a seed. Wrapped and placed in a tomb, left to decay and return to dust. John 1, in the Passion Translation, says, "In the very beginning God was already there. And before his face was his Living Expression. And this “Living Expression” was with God, yet fully God. They were together — face to face, in the very beginning. And through his creative inspiration this “Living Expression” made all things. For nothing has existence apart from him! Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity... And so the Living Expression became a man and lived among us!” (verses 1-14) To dust, he did not return; he drank it in and rose from it, overcoming the laws and reality of this physical and natural world; breathing in death, exhaling life. Rising from it, into and above it. Permeating all things with himself, as he did in the beginning. Paul had never seen or spoken with human Jesus, but he knew him, he walked with him. They were joined by something more real than the dust on his feet; faith. Although Jesus is not with us in body, he is more present here on earth than ever. He is the dirt under our feet, the wind that sways and surrounds us, the air in our lungs, the oceans deep, the sands on the shore, the sun's warmth and the winters crisp cold... he is music, he is poetry, he is the newborn's first breath and the final sigh of a dying soul. He is in all things and through all things - he created it all and holds it all together. We look beyond the material and into the heart of life and by faith find Jesus right there in the thick of it. Not through ritual, not through perfection or performance. Faith. It's this faith; the spiritual vibration felt in the undertones of living, which connects us all… that crimson thread weaved through lives built on Jesus across all times past, present and future. Walk out your life step by step, day by day, by faith; the conviction that your hope lies not in what is seen with the human eye, but in the power of Jesus. And allow your faith to take you deeper, through challenging terrain, mountain top precipices, the hard spaces and beautiful views of life. Ask questions, dig deep, let faith drive you into the heart and soul of this beautiful, crazy God-soaked life.
Paul was talking about how to live “at home in the body [but] absent from the Lord” (2 Cor 5:6). Absent from his bodily presence. Jesus had walked, talked, and lived with many of them - they still had a visceral memory of Jesus and all that he had done. But Jesus had ascended into heaven, his physical form leaving the earth. For those of us reading this story hundreds of years on, and for some there at the time, it seems that there was once again a separation between God and man. The teaching and understanding around Jesus living in hearts was still very new. Paul was encouraging those gathered at Corinth to walk out this New Way by faith - believing that while Jesus was not physically and tangibly with them, he was still very present and at work in their lives. They didn’t need to sacrifice or perform, but they were at one with Christ. It's a grand mystery. After his ascension, Jesus was still present in the earth. Perhaps even more so. As his blood trickled down that cross, and his sweat and tears fell to the ground and mingled with the dirt, he was once again sown into the earth. Buried like a seed. Wrapped and placed in a tomb, left to decay and return to dust. John 1, in the Passion Translation, says, "In the very beginning God was already there. And before his face was his Living Expression. And this “Living Expression” was with God, yet fully God. They were together — face to face, in the very beginning. And through his creative inspiration this “Living Expression” made all things. For nothing has existence apart from him! Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity... And so the Living Expression became a man and lived among us!” (verses 1-14) To dust, he did not return; he drank it in and rose from it, overcoming the laws and reality of this physical and natural world; breathing in death, exhaling life. Rising from it, into and above it. Permeating all things with himself, as he did in the beginning. Paul had never seen or spoken with human Jesus, but he knew him, he walked with him. They were joined by something more real than the dust on his feet; faith. Although Jesus is not with us in body, he is more present here on earth than ever. He is the dirt under our feet, the wind that sways and surrounds us, the air in our lungs, the oceans deep, the sands on the shore, the sun's warmth and the winters crisp cold... he is music, he is poetry, he is the newborn's first breath and the final sigh of a dying soul. He is in all things and through all things - he created it all and holds it all together. We look beyond the material and into the heart of life and by faith find Jesus right there in the thick of it. Not through ritual, not through perfection or performance. Faith. It's this faith; the spiritual vibration felt in the undertones of living, which connects us all… that crimson thread weaved through lives built on Jesus across all times past, present and future. Walk out your life step by step, day by day, by faith; the conviction that your hope lies not in what is seen with the human eye, but in the power of Jesus. And allow your faith to take you deeper, through challenging terrain, mountain top precipices, the hard spaces and beautiful views of life. Ask questions, dig deep, let faith drive you into the heart and soul of this beautiful, crazy God-soaked life.
To say we’re grateful that you’ve decided to give DVO a go for the next 31 days is an understatement! Thank you! We’re so glad you’re here. And we wanted to take this first day to introduce DVO to you properly. DVO is a divine mash up of the amazing folks at Alphapod; who work on the technical and visual logistics of this app, and PocketFuel; A husband and wife team (of which I am the wife) who are passionate about discovering God in the everyday of life, and helping others do the same. We (I’ve moved from third person to first, BTW) started PocketFuel some years ago through Instagram; designing pictorial scriptures and writing short devotions. It’s been a crazy and incredible journey, and along with Alphapod, we are so thankful for you all and for how DVO has been used to help people wake up to the love of God all over the world. Including in our hearts and lives along the way. We’ve grown and learned heaps over the past few years, with much more to come. Each of our daily notations are inspirations, thoughts, ideas and conversations about God, the Bible and life. We’ve come to understand that life is a journey, we’re always learning new things and seeking for more. We hope that together we can have some meaningful conversations about the ever unfolding nature of God and truth and how to experience that in our everyday. We want DVO to be an encouragement to dig deep, search out the scriptures, find out more about God and see him in the middle, muck, mess and beauty of all that is within and around you. Something I heard on a Podcast recently was the idea that “we are all students.” We are eternal students; always learning, maturing and growing. DVO is the same. It will grow and change and morph and melt into whatever season God leads us into. Grace, grace and more grace. One thing that's really important to us is being real. Honest. We want to talk about real issues (including the uncomfortable, messy, grey ones) in an authentic and personal way. To create a safe space to process, talk and wrestle out ideas about God and life. We want to explore it all, ask the scary questions and peel away the dogma. Do whatever we can to uncover the heart of God in this crazy, messy, beautiful world, day in, day out. Frederick Buechner says, “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” Email us, contact us whichever way is easiest for you... what issues do you want to explore? What are your deepest fears and grandest dreams? The things that bring you joy and the stuff that drops you to your knees? Let’s see if we can have some meaningful conversations together about them. Again, thank you so much for joining us on this journey. We hope and pray that God speaks to you through DVO and that you are challenged and encouraged to live courageously, full of faith, vulnerable and honest, and confident the Divine's infinite love for you and the world. "The true God is the Creator of all things. He is the owner and Lord of the heavenly realm and the earthly realm, and he doesn’t live in man-made temples. He supplies life and breath and all things to every living being. He doesn’t lack a thing that we mortals could supply for him, for he has all things and everything he needs. From one man, Adam, he made every man and woman and every race of humanity, and he spread us over all the earth. He sets the boundaries of people and nations, determining their appointed times in history. He has done this so that every person would long for God, feel their way to him, and find him— for he is the God who is easy to discover! It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from him.’” Acts 17:24-29 The Passion Translation.
To say we’re grateful that you’ve decided to give DVO a go for the next 31 days is an understatement! Thank you! We’re so glad you’re here. And we wanted to take this first day to introduce DVO to you properly. DVO is a divine mash up of the amazing folks at Alphapod; who work on the technical and visual logistics of this app, and PocketFuel; A husband and wife team (of which I am the wife) who are passionate about discovering God in the everyday of life, and helping others do the same. We (I’ve moved from third person to first, BTW) started PocketFuel some years ago through Instagram; designing pictorial scriptures and writing short devotions. It’s been a crazy and incredible journey, and along with Alphapod, we are so thankful for you all and for how DVO has been used to help people wake up to the love of God all over the world. Including in our hearts and lives along the way. We’ve grown and learned heaps over the past few years, with much more to come. Each of our daily notations are inspirations, thoughts, ideas and conversations about God, the Bible and life. We’ve come to understand that life is a journey, we’re always learning new things and seeking for more. We hope that together we can have some meaningful conversations about the ever unfolding nature of God and truth and how to experience that in our everyday. We want DVO to be an encouragement to dig deep, search out the scriptures, find out more about God and see him in the middle, muck, mess and beauty of all that is within and around you. Something I heard on a Podcast recently was the idea that “we are all students.” We are eternal students; always learning, maturing and growing. DVO is the same. It will grow and change and morph and melt into whatever season God leads us into. Grace, grace and more grace. One thing that's really important to us is being real. Honest. We want to talk about real issues (including the uncomfortable, messy, grey ones) in an authentic and personal way. To create a safe space to process, talk and wrestle out ideas about God and life. We want to explore it all, ask the scary questions and peel away the dogma. Do whatever we can to uncover the heart of God in this crazy, messy, beautiful world, day in, day out. Frederick Buechner says, “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.” Email us, contact us whichever way is easiest for you... what issues do you want to explore? What are your deepest fears and grandest dreams? The things that bring you joy and the stuff that drops you to your knees? Let’s see if we can have some meaningful conversations together about them. Again, thank you so much for joining us on this journey. We hope and pray that God speaks to you through DVO and that you are challenged and encouraged to live courageously, full of faith, vulnerable and honest, and confident the Divine's infinite love for you and the world. "The true God is the Creator of all things. He is the owner and Lord of the heavenly realm and the earthly realm, and he doesn’t live in man-made temples. He supplies life and breath and all things to every living being. He doesn’t lack a thing that we mortals could supply for him, for he has all things and everything he needs. From one man, Adam, he made every man and woman and every race of humanity, and he spread us over all the earth. He sets the boundaries of people and nations, determining their appointed times in history. He has done this so that every person would long for God, feel their way to him, and find him— for he is the God who is easy to discover! It is through him that we live and function and have our identity; just as your own poets have said, ‘Our lineage comes from him.’” Acts 17:24-29 The Passion Translation.
‘Quitting’ seems to have exit ramps every 500 metres on the highway of life. It’s like there’s always an opportunity to give up and throw in the towel... as if that would be the easiest option. In fact, most give up because it seems like the easiest option... They pull off the road and park. Often without their hazard signals on and unaware of how close they are to reaching their destination. “Nothing to see here” they say trying desperately not to draw any attention to the fact that they aren’t going anywhere. The engine is still running and the vehicle still has potential but the will to drive on has ended. Hope is lost. The night has set in and cold descends. But something in the rearview mirror catches the eye. Lights flicker in the distant dark and as a vehicle gets closer,it appears it has come to rescue. “Need a jump start?” the stranger asks warmly through the window, before his vehicle even comes to a halt. “Nah I’m just taking a rest” the reply shoots back between the cars. Dull moonlight bounces off the bonnet of the cars and the sound of crickets in the distance can just be heard through the low rumble of the idling engines. “Well, it’s getting cold and dark so why don’t you follow me?” the rescuer asks without even acknowledging the tinges of shame in the worn out traveller’s voice. “OK...” the words sheepishly roll into the dark. Both cars fire into motion and the glimmering warmth of hope once again fills the air. The destination is still ahead and the journey is not over. Possibility is renewed and potential engaged. There is someone willing to help... willing to guide and direct the way. It’s not over. And what was started will be finished. In Him. Please... don’t park! Don’t give up.
‘Quitting’ seems to have exit ramps every 500 metres on the highway of life. It’s like there’s always an opportunity to give up and throw in the towel... as if that would be the easiest option. In fact, most give up because it seems like the easiest option... They pull off the road and park. Often without their hazard signals on and unaware of how close they are to reaching their destination. “Nothing to see here” they say trying desperately not to draw any attention to the fact that they aren’t going anywhere. The engine is still running and the vehicle still has potential but the will to drive on has ended. Hope is lost. The night has set in and cold descends. But something in the rearview mirror catches the eye. Lights flicker in the distant dark and as a vehicle gets closer,it appears it has come to rescue. “Need a jump start?” the stranger asks warmly through the window, before his vehicle even comes to a halt. “Nah I’m just taking a rest” the reply shoots back between the cars. Dull moonlight bounces off the bonnet of the cars and the sound of crickets in the distance can just be heard through the low rumble of the idling engines. “Well, it’s getting cold and dark so why don’t you follow me?” the rescuer asks without even acknowledging the tinges of shame in the worn out traveller’s voice. “OK...” the words sheepishly roll into the dark. Both cars fire into motion and the glimmering warmth of hope once again fills the air. The destination is still ahead and the journey is not over. Possibility is renewed and potential engaged. There is someone willing to help... willing to guide and direct the way. It’s not over. And what was started will be finished. In Him. Please... don’t park! Don’t give up.